[Tom Zeni]

Don't know if you've seen this from golfdigest.com,

but these are the changes to Augusta National for 2006

http://www.golfdigest.com/photos/photo_gallery/popup_photo_gallery.ssf?index=0&g_id=90

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom,

Thanks for the pictures and accompanying data, it was most informative.

The golf course remains wonderful, but the tree planting is lamentable.

[Tom Zeni]

Patrick, I can only agree with you. Having been there for the past 3 years, I can tell you #11 is an architectural nightmare for anyone who thinks they can view the hole. Last year, even the 2nd shot was partially obscured from the "patrons."

And the 15th green, to accommodate fans, the Green Jackets have placed grand stands to the right side of the green, opposite the grand stands behind Sarazen's bridge, that obliterate the view of the par 3 16th, not to mention the beauty of the azeala's on the hillside of the 16th.

[jeffwarne]

I've always thought the tee on 15 belonged where it now is, as it was awkward before(way off to the right)
I'm curious why it wasn't moved years ago.
Not sure it makes it play tougher or even much longer as a player has room for a draw now or can use the mounds on the right more readily,but I think it's a better hole now.
#4 lengthening gives the par 3's a little more variety and makes it play more like it did years ago.
#11 looks even more cluttered than it was last year-the trees on the riight interfere with spectating as they're roped off and block viewing. I hope you can get behind that tee still as that was a spectators hidden gem dream back there.(never crowded)
#1 will continue to be a spectator bottleneck,hopefully not worse.
#7 has been a spectating bottleneck since the changes a few years ago, I'm not sure how they'll handle it now.

Can't wait to get there

[Jimbo]

I can't wait! Look for me camped out at 15 green.  If its dry there are going to be a shittload of balls in the water.

[Bill Shotzbarger]

To lengthen the course is one thing, but messing around with the greens and changing the angles of play that the desginers intended is something that is not good for the Masters. It's terrible that a club with such a strong commitment to history and tradition can drop the ball like this so badly.

[Tom Zeni]

Before the bleachers, the right side of #15 green had always been my favorite place sit. What a wondrous view as you sat on the mounded grass viewing the 2nd and 3rd shots, while also watching the green at the 16th. Even waiting for someone to yell "incoming" - as the right side bunker is the bail out area for the players, was fun.

I still recall Brad Faxon hitting one so far right, and directly under the score board that used to be there, he had to chip over our heads and onto the green.

I really don't see anything about #4 but added length, as they continue to move it back toward #2 fairway.

As for #15, the access road directly behind #15 tee probably was the reason for the first move, but now, they've seem to have straddled it.

And if anyone has seen the shoot they hit from on the 18th, then for the first time, you've seen something that doesn't look natural, or appear as if it's always been there. Stands out like a sore thumb.

[Ken Fry]

I still don't understand the changes to #7 & #11.  #7 was a good, short hole with a green to match up with it.  Now it looks like a hallway.

#11 looks like a debacle from the spectators point of view.  Seeing the new pines on the right side last year not only looked out of place, but blocked viewing.

It's been said many times before but is this really what Jones and MacKenzie envisioned for Augusta National?

Ken

[PThomas]

it says on 7 , a 450 yd hole, the players may have to hit a long iron or rescue club into the green.....I have a hard time believing anyone them will have to do that

[Cliff Hamm]

Instead of starting a new thread since it's a bit off topic thought I'd post it here.  Looking at the GD article and realizing Weir won in 2003 I thought - that's amazing given his short distance and how recently he won.  My thought was it goes to show you, not easy, but ball strikers can still win at Augusta.  Than I noticed the chart of short hitters and their average drive when they won.  Weir averged 271 in '03.  

In 1999, only 7 years ago, Jose Maria Olazabal averaged 239.8 yards off the tee!!!  Incredible!  Bet anyone on his average drive and I suspect no one would guess less than 260 or so.  How he ever won with such short drives is simply amazing.  I share the fear that the ball strikers are gone from Augusta but it has always favored the long hitters and one never knows.

[W.H. Cosgrove]

They've added so many trees it is beginning to look like Sahalee

[Brock Peyer]

I think that I like the changes to number 4 and 15.  I think that both could become total bears of holes.  I remember seeing 15 at Atlanta Athletic Club (I think) and thought that we would see huge number on it and it wasn't too terrible.  I am glad to see them hitting 3 irons and 5 woods on a par three.

[Chris Kane]

My theory is that the longer they make the course, the more emphasis is placed on two facets of the game - length off the tee and short game.  With a longer course, all players are going to miss more greens, so getting up and down for par becomes more important.

[Evan Fleisher]

Tom,

Thanks for the pictures and accompanying data, it was most informative.

The golf course remains wonderful, but the tree planting is lamentable.

I think Patrick hit the nail on the head...how can you NOT love Augusta, but the new trees remain a boon-doggle that will not be solved anytime soon.

[redanman]

Is The Masters® still relevant?

Should ANGC® still be considered a Classical course?

Meet Dr. Fronk-en-steen, 2006® edition.

Am I alone in finding The Masters® less compelling each year. (I'm serious on this one question.)

[Dave Esler]

Bill,  Certainly ANGC is still relevant, but not as a Classical course.  Reviewing my 1937 program it is clear the existing course barely resembles the original,sans routing.  And even before I read your fronkensteen thoughts, I was imagining a grand dame of theatre trying to keep up via plastic surgery.

Mackenzie's own description that "I do not beliewve the AN will impress anyone as long course,.." seems quaint seventy years post, given all things technology and fitness, it probably isn't long on a relative basis.  I do think #7 has a chance to be a fiasco at 450 uphill to that green.

Does anyone know who sketched the the green complexes in the 1937 Program.  They have a creepy Edvard Munch or Salvador Dali flavor as the front of many greens drip like a Dali clock or Munchs "Scream"?

Not too proud to admit that, yes, the tournament still grabs me-but I do think some of it may be golf depravation as our tundra is barely thawed here by then in Chicago.

All things being equal though, THE OPEN still revs the engine more than any other week of professional golf.
(dont try this at home these are trained professionals on a closed course)...maybe that should be the disclaimer made by GCSAA during Masters week to keep every other private club from trying to emulate their conditioning?

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Redanman, I have had a theory for quite some time that each of the majors favored a different kind of game.  

The US Open for accuracy; the Open Championship for shot makers; the PGA for the power game and the Masters for the swashbucklers or risk takers.  

The folks at Augusta didn't or don't understand their brand well enough to actually maintain it.  Strange since the captains of American industry are the protectors of ANGC.  

The very changes at Augusta could well be a metaphor for the entire nation.  They don't understand who they are and what they have and reactionary change has left them with a tournament that is no where near as compelling as it once was.

The changes have made the Masters a yawn.  Without the miraculous chip in by Tigre last year (complete with the highlighted Nike swoosh), the entire toonament would be a bore!

[Tom Zeni]

If you check the leaderboards each week that Tiger plays, there is usually one heck of a tournament going on behind him! Lead changes, guys taking chances, players moving up and down the leaderboard. Only problem is, no one notices because Tiger usually has things under control.

It's my theory that Tiger doesn't need to play 4 rounds. Instead, at the end of 4 rounds, the leader plays Tiger in a sudden death playoff. Tiger pars, the other player bogey's.  Think Hootie will go for that?

BTW, Hootie needs to go back to the original playoff format of going to #10. It will produce a winner just as easily as repeating the 18th.

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